Light-bulb-adjusting device



Feb. 18, 1930. G. HycouLTsR 1,747,359

LIGHT BULB ADJUSTING nsvzcn Filed May 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Shet 1 INVENTOR4V f,- Co a4 75/? ATTORY Feb. 18, 1930. G. H. COULTER LIGHT BULBADJUSTING DEVICE Filed May 27, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR 62Coo/.727

ATTORNEY Patented Feb. 18, 1930 UNITED STATES.

PATENT OFFICE GUY H. COULTER, OF HIGHLAND PARK; MICHIGAN, ASSIGNOR TOMONOGRAM LENS CORPORATION, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION OFDELAW'ARE LIGHr-BnLB-Anmsrme nnvror.

Application filed May 27,

This invention relates to headlights for automobiles, and especiallythat type of headlight in which the casing is elongated orbullet-shaped.

In headlamps in which the rear casing wall comes adjacent the reflector,the vertical adjusting means'may easily be mounted upon the wall of thecasing, but where the casing wall is spaced at considerable distancefrom the reflector as in a bullet-shaped lamp, the leverage of theadjusting means becomes so great'that a relatively large movementthereof is required to cause a slight vertical movement of the lightsource. The prese'ntin vention overcomes this difliculty and pro vides ameans to cause vertical adjustment of the lightfsource withoutnecessitating extreme limits of the adjusting means.

One of the objects of the invention therefore is to provide means tovertically and axially adjust the light bulb of an elongated headlightfrom the rear wall of the casing.

' Another object of the invention is to provide means to eflect therequired vertical adjustmentof the light source in a headlight having arelatively long distance between the light source and the adjustingmeans.

Other objects of the invention, and objects relating to economies ofmanufacture will be apparent as the description of the inventionproceeds. v

One embodiment of the invention has been illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings in which: k

Fig.1is a sectional side elevation of a headlight embodying myinvention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional end viewof the vertical adjusting means taken onthe line 22 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the adjusting means, and c Fig. 4 is asectional view of the socket taken on the line H of Fig. 1.

Referring now more specifically to the drawings, the headlight comprisesa casing 10 having a reflector 11 rigidly supported in one end thereof,the reflector and casing being closed by a lens 12 secured in anydesired manner as by a rim 13 attached to the casing by screws 14:. Theusual gasket 15 to 1927. Serial No. 194,560.

insure a tight fit between the lens and reflectormay be inserted betweenthe lens and a flange 16 extending outwardly from the periphery of thereflector. The reflector 11 is provided'with an aperture 17 adjacent itsaxis in which a socket 18 is adapted to be loosely supported forreceiving an electric light bulb 19. A rib 20 is provided on one side,preferably the top of the socket, and is adapted to engage a slot 21formed in the aperture 17 in the reflector to permit axial movement ofthe socket with respect to the reflector but prevent rotation thereof.An

arm 22 is rigidly attached to the socket 18 and may, if desired, beformed. integral with the rib 20, as illustrated. This arm 22extendsrearwardly of the socket and terminates in a bifurcated bearing 23 inwhich is rotatably mounted a pin 24, the rotation of the pin being on anaxis transverse to the axis of the arm 22. A screw 25 having a head 26is rotatably mounted in an aperture 27 in the rear wall of the casing.The inner end 28 of the screw 25 is threaded into an opening 29 in thepin 24, and hence by rotating the screw 25, by means of the head 26, thearm 22,"and socket 18, will be caused to move axially with respect tothe reflector. V I y In order to effect the vertical adjustment of thelight source, a supporting plate 30 is attached to the casing as bysolder 31, or in any desired manner at a point substantially midwaybetween the socket and the outer wall of the casing,the plate beingprovided with a slot 32 through which the screw 25 passes and in whichthe screw may have ver= tical movement. A plate 33 is mounted adjacentthe plate 30, the screw 25 passing through a hole 34 therein, and isadapted to raise and lower the screw 25 when itis shifted up and down.In order to move the plate 33 up and down, a circular opening 35-isprovided in the plate, the edge of the opening being turnedoutwardly toform a transverse circular flange 36. A cam 37'comprisin'g a circulardisk whose edge is transversely extended to form a flange 38is adaptedto fit up against the plate 33 so that the flange 38 extends over theflange 36 and forms a bearing therewith. The cam 37 is eccentricallymounted on a rod 39, the end 40 of the rod being squared to preventrotation of the cam with respect to the rod. The rod 39 extends throughan opening 41 in the plate 30, which forms a bearing for the inner endthereof, and through an opening 42 in the rear wall of the casing whichforms a'bearing to support the outer end. A head 43 may be rovided onthe outer end of the rod 39 an a portion of the rear wall of the casingmay be inset, as at 44, to provide a bearing surface for the head 43. Awasher 45 is provided on the inner end 40 of the rod 39, and may be heldon the rod by a pin 46, passing therethrough. A spring 47 is providedaround the squared end 40 of the rod 39 and bearsagainst the washer 45and the cam 37, thereby holding the cam and plate 33 against the plate30 and the rod 39 in its innermost position.

A; second spring 48 is provided around the screw 25 and bears againstthe plate 33 at one end and the bearing 23 at the other thereby urgingthe adjusting screw 25 and the socket 18 toward the inner limit of itsmovement and assisting in maintaining the plate 33 against the plate 30.r

The operation of the device may be et fected by turning the heads 26 and43.

When the head 26 is turned, the screw threads into or out'of the pin 24,thereby moving the socket 18 axially with respect to the reflector, andhence the light source is moved axially withrespect to the focal pointof the reflector. When the head 43 is turned, the rod 39 and cam 37 arerotated,and as the cam is eccentrically mounted, a lateral shifting ofthe plate 33 is effected. This causes the end of the screw 25 to movevertically, pivoting about the head 26. At the same time, as the pin 24is free to pivot with respect to the arm22, a tilting of the arm 22 andsocket 18 in the aperture 17 of the reflector results. This causesvertical movement of the light source, and the proper adjustment thereofwith respect to the reflector axis may easily be obtained. 7

While I have illustrated one embodiment of the invention, many changesmay be made in the construction without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and I desire it to be understood that my invention is notlimited to any specific form or arrangement of parts except in so far assuch limitations are specified in said claims."

Having thus described I desire to claim is 2- 1. In a headlight, acasing; a reflector within said casing; a light bulb socket movablymounted in said reflector; means extending between said socket and therear wall of said casing to adjust said socket axially with respect tosaid reflector, said means including a hinge connection; a supportposimy invention, what tioned'between said socket and said rear wall;

and cam means rotatably mounted on said support and cooperating withsaid axial adjusting means to eliect a change in angularity of saidhinge connection whereby said socket is tilted with respect to saidreflec- 2. In a headlight, a casing; a reflector within said casing; alight bulb socket movably mounted in said reflector; means extendingbetween said socket and the rear Wall of said casing to adjust saidsocket axially withrespect to said reflector, said means including ahinge connection; a support positioned between said socket and said rearwall; and cam means rotatably mounted on said support and cooperatingwith said axial adjusting means to effect a change in angularity of saidhinge connection whereby said socket is tilted with respect to saidreflector; and means to operate said cam means from said rear wall.

3. In a headlight, a casing; a reflector Within said casing; a lightbulb socket movably mounted in said reflector; means extending betweensaid socket and the rear wall of said casing to adjust saidsocketaxially with respect to said reflector, said means including a hingeconnection; a support positioned between said socket and said rear wall;a rod rotatably mounted between said rear wall and said support; a cammounted on said rod to rotate therewith; and means adapted to 'beshifted by said cam and cooperating with said axial adjusting means totilt said socket when said rod and cam are rotated.

4. In a headlight, a casing; a reflector within said casing a light bulbsocket movably mounted in said reflector; means extending between saidsocket and the rear wall of said casing to adjust said socket axiallywith respect to said reflector, said means including a hinge connection;a support positioned between'said socket and said rear wall; arodrotatably mounted at one end in an opening in said rear wall and at theother end in an opening in said support; a head on the end of said rodoutside of and adjacent said rear wall; a cam mounted on said rod forrotation therewith; and a plate engaging said cam and cooperating withsaid axial adjusting means to change the angularity of said hingeconnection whereby a tilting of said socket is effected.

5. In a headlight, an elongated casing; a reflector within said casing;a bulb socket movably mounted in said reflector; an 'arm rigidlyattached to said socket; a member pivotally connected to said arm; asupport attached to said casing and positioned between said socket andrear wall; a screw rotatably mounted in the rear Wall of said casing andthreadedly engaging said member whereby rotation of said screwproducesaxial movement, of said socket; a rodrotatably mounted at oneend in an opening in said rear wall and at the other end in an openingin said support; a head on the end of said rod outside of and adjacentsaid rear wall; a cam mounted on said rod for rotation therewith; and aplate engaging said cam and cooperating with said axial adjusting meansto change the angularity of said hinge connection whereby a tilting ofsaid socket is effected.

6. In a headlight, a casing; a reflector in said casing; a light bulbsocket in said reflector; means to axially adjust said socket withrespect to said reflector; and means to transversely displace said axialadjusting means to effect a tilting of said socket, said meanscomprising a plate cooperating with said axial adjusting means; atransverse circular rib attached to said plate; a cam adjacent saidplate; a transverse flange at the periphery of said cam adapted to fitover and bear against said circular rib; and means to hold said camagainst said plate.

In testimony whereof, I affix my signature.

GUY H. OOU'LTER.

